Paroxysmal dyskinesias in patients with HIV infection.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the clinical features of paroxysmal dyskinesias among HIV type 1 (HIV-1)-seropositive patients. BACKGROUND: Movement disorders have been associated with HIV infection, although the full spectrum of these disorders remains uncertain. METHODS: Six adult HIV-1-seropositive patients presenting with paroxysmal dyskinesias were identified. Each patient underwent metabolic, CSF, EEG, and neuroimaging studies. RESULTS: Mean age at onset was 34.5 years and five of six patients were AIDS defined. Dyskinesias were focal, multifocal, or hemidystonic in four patients and generalized in another two patients. Two of the six patients had paroxysmal kinesigenic dyskinesias and the remaining four patients had paroxysmal nonkinesigenic dyskinesias. Choreoathetosis (n = 3), myoclonus (n = 2), postural tremor (n = 5), and dysarthria (n = 3) were observed. Benzodiazepines appeared beneficial in three of six patients. Two patients with HIV-associated dementia and paroxysmal nonkinesigenic dyskinesia had a progressive course to death. Autopsy of a patient with paroxysmal nonkinesigenic dyskinesias revealed intense astrogliosis and loss of calbindin-positive neurons in the subcortical gray matter. CONCLUSIONS: Paroxysmal dyskinesias may present as a primary HIV-1-induced neurologic syndrome. The occurrence of paroxysmal dyskinesias is associated with neuronal injury and loss in the subcortical gray matter but the mechanism remains unknown.

Interruption of vertical transmission of hepatitis B virus with gamma B immunoglobulin in Christchurch.

This paper reports the results of administration of a course of three 1 ml intramuscular injections of anti-HBs immunoglobulin to the babies of HBsAg positive mothers recognised during pregnancy over a period 1982-1985. Fifty-nine hepatitis B surface antigen patients were detected during the four years of the study but only 29 were able to be followed up fully. The results of intervention, its efficacy and the problems associated with this are detailed.

Hepatitis B markers in Canterbury dental workers: a seroepidemiological survey.

One hundred and forty-one dentists and dental assistants, and 88 school dental nurses were questioned and blood specimens obtained to determine the prevalence of hepatitis B markers amongst this group to attempt to elucidate the contribution of their work experience to these findings. An analysis of the type of work, number of patients treated, years in practice, place of practice, past history of hepatitis, age and sex of the participants and other contributing factors including past blood transfusions, tattoos, were determined for each participant. Fourteen percent of the dentists, 7.4% of the dental assistants and 6.9% of the school dental nurses surveyed showed hepatitis B markers. The factors contributing to the positive results were analysed.

Campylobacter jejuni myocarditis.

A case of Campylobacter jejuni (C. jejuni) myocarditis in a young man is described. C. jejuni was isolated from the patient's stools and he developed specific antibodies to this organism. Tests for other etiological agents (Salmonella, Shigella, Brucella abortus, beta-hemolytic streptococcus Group A, Treponema pallidum and coxsackievirus B) proved negative.

Studies on antibody levels to Brucella abortus, Toxoplasma gondii and Leptospira serogroups in sera collected by the National Serum Bank during 1974-1976.

The New Zealand National Serum Bank is a collection of human sera consisting predominantly of specimens taken from healthy New Zealand blood donors. The studies presented here were designed to assess the antibody levels in two urban centres to Brucella abortus, Toxoplasma gondii and several Leptospiral serogroups including all those found in New Zealand. In none of the sera could complement fixing leptospiral antibodies be detected. There was evidence of low level immunity to both Toxoplasma gondii and Brucella abortus.